Accused San Diego ATM bomber released on bail

SAN DIEGO – A Mira Mesa man accused of bombing two San Diego ATMs as part of a burglary has been released on $50,000 bail.

The US Attorney's Office believes that there is a solid case against 44-year-old Son Nguyen.

Investigators said they found explosives at the man's Mira Mesa home as well as the vehicle believed to be involved in the crimes.

Surveillance photos showed a masked man detonating explosives at an ATM in University City and another ATM in Rancho Bernardo in June of this year. The burglar was unable to take cash from the ATM

Agents said they checked the license plate of the black Volvo sedan seen in the surveillance photos, but it was a Ford van and not a Volvo.

Using license plate reading technology, officers said they tracked the Volvo to Nguyen and served a search warrant for his Mira Mesa home.

According to federal court documents, agents allegedly found “gas, black powder, potassium nitrate sulfur, explosive precursor chemicals, (and) a paper explaining how to make black powder.” Agents also claim they also found the license plate of the Ford van that was seen in the surveillance photos in Nguyen's black Volvo.

Officials arrested Nguyen last month on two counts of damaging ATMs with explosives.

He has now been released on bail.

“Typically in a case like this, the defendant is arrested because he or she poses a danger to the community,” said former San Diego U.S. Attorney Charles La Bella, who is not involved in the case.

He said it was unclear why Nguyen was free on $50,000 bail while he awaited trial.

“This is not normally done, especially when there is a risk of explosives. And the guy is a potential flight risk because he has a false license plate in his car,” La Bella said.

Federal court records showed prosecutors made an oral motion in court to waive bail, arguing that Nguyen was a danger to the community. Judge David Leshner denied the request and instead granted the defendant bail, with house arrest, electronic monitoring and a requirement that he live with a family member.

CBS 8 knocked on Nguyen's door in Mira Mesa. His mother responded and invited a reporter. Her son said he had no comment for the news media.

If convicted on all counts, Nguyen faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. He will be back in court on October 25th.

CBS 8 reached out to Nguyen's defense attorney for comment, but we have not heard back.